@Will He will never score runs against quality attack with that technique its awful

by nickcricket7/3/2017 3:30:26 PM

@StaggerBreaths which Kolpakshire, Hampshire, Lancs or Glamorgan?

by nickcricket7/3/2017 3:27:55 PM

Live Update

Tim Wigmore at Hamphire 244-3 v Surrey

We’ve seen a perfect distillation what got James Vince into the England team and then what got him. His innings was brimming with resplendent drives and square cuts, and then ended, as so often against Pakistan last summer, when he flashed behind, on 104. It was a sparkling and delightful innings, yet could have been ended on several occasions before to the same shot - including twice on 98 when Tom Curran was bowling wide of offstump and Vince, as so often, couldn’t resist. Still, his innings has put Hampshire into a position from which they can shape the game, providing they withstand the second new ball later in the evening. Still 15 overs to go before then, mind.

by Tim Wigmore7/3/2017 3:27:39 PM

Nick you're never allowed to complain about Kolpakshire ever again.

by StaggerBreaths7/3/2017 3:27:11 PM

@nickcricket not sure he makes it in. he's not better than Ballance, and Ballance bowls better legspin

by Will7/3/2017 3:26:44 PM

Speaking of Steve Smith I hear he is currently without an International Contract and has an English mother so maybe the ECB could waive the qualification period and get him in the side by the WI series?

by nickcricket7/3/2017 3:25:46 PM

God love him, but Jack Leach consistently batting before Groenewald is something I cannot get my head round

by Will7/3/2017 3:25:04 PM

Just call him Steve Critchley Smith

by Matt_MYano7/3/2017 3:24:37 PM

Not sure why Somerset are still batting they have got enough here, I suppose they want to make the follow on a realistic possibility

@nickcricket About a couple of frames before impact you could not see any of the stumps, looked like it went through his pad. Either he moved at the very last moment or the webcam isn't totally central and deceiving us.

by Haystack_Jnr7/3/2017 3:21:54 PM

@MjRichardson93 Could Moeen give way if it doesn't look like it will turn?

by Kieran Layer7/3/2017 3:21:43 PM

Watched it three times and I don't know how Gregory got bowled by that, if it had hit his pad would have said it was missing leg stump

by nickcricket7/3/2017 3:14:43 PM

@dezdezzy Let's hope the SA bats are no better than Tim Rouse

by Will7/3/2017 3:14:39 PM

Yeah to clarify I'm not suggesting for a second that Billings should take Buttler's place in the team, however it might be that there's room for Buttler as a specialist batsman with Billings keeping. Still not sure how you'd make that happen without Billings having to bat way down.

by MjRichardson937/3/2017 3:14:11 PM

ECB Reporters Network

Hampshire 243-3 v Surrey

James Vince, a fixture in England’s Test team last summer, mastered Surrey’s attack at the Kia Oval today to help to steer Hampshire to 243 for 3 by tea in their Specsavers County Championship Division One match.

The 26-year-old, jettisoned by England after managing only 212 runs in seven Tests in 2016, was eventually caught behind flashing at Tom Curran for 104, and added 161 in 35 overs for the third wicket with opener Jimmy Adams, who was 83 not out at the interval.

Vince reached his fifty in just 71 balls, with ten fours, while Adams laboured for 138 balls to reach the landmark. Towards the end of the second session, however, Adams opened up with a series of lovely offside strokes as Surrey’s bowlers came under increasing pressure.

On his dismissal, Vince had faced 129 balls and hit 19 fours and some of his offside play – both driving through extra cover and forcing off the back foot – was of the highest class. He departed, though, to a poor shot – especially as he had played and missed twice on 98 against the elder Curran brother attempting a similar back foot slash.

The morning session had been a struggle for Hampshire, in contrast to their afternoon fortunes, with Sam Curran bowling Lewis McManus for 13 with an inswinger and Tom Curran removing Rilee Rossouw for 28 with the third ball of his second spell – the left-hander pushing forward with hard hands and edging to Scott Borthwick at second slip.

Billings is a stupidly good List A batsman and improving steadily in red ball cricket, however he's been massively misused by England. He's not a finisher and far more effective when he has a couple of overs to play himself in.

by MjRichardson937/3/2017 2:45:33 PM

That's the issue with a few of these players now including Billings (and Buttler) - There is no questioning their ability but they just don't seem to play enough cricket.

Billings has currently played 2 50 over games and 2 days of a CC match for Kent this season.He got pulled up into the international side after he had a ludicrous year in short form. Averaged something like 100 at a strike rate of 150. He still has an average of 43 and a strike rate of 108, so he's hardly got nothing to back himself up with...

by Kieran Layer7/3/2017 2:44:34 PM

Glamorgan could be batting again b4 close of play today

by Lawrence Payne7/3/2017 2:44:34 PM

Billings has an excellent List A record, so I think a lot of his reputation is warranted. Has certainly lacked game time recently though.

by Matt Warwick7/3/2017 2:44:11 PM

@MarkOfield I suppose they want the next best player there for if there is an injury on the morning of a game, like Buttler at Headingley last year. Bairstow can also be the spare keeper, although it seemed like they wanted to squeeze Bairstow out as at the start of the summer Billings was the first batting and Keeping reserve but then Bairstow got that 70 odd against Ireland and Billings has really got many all summer (or had much chance really)